On August 10, 2004 Alan N. Cohen died of pulmonary fibrosis at his home in Boca Raton, Florida. Alan came to Dartmouth from Passaic, New Jersey but left the College after his sophomore year and graduated from Columbia University followed by Columbia Law School.

It cannot be said that his lack of a Dartmouth degree impeded his business career. Alan rapidly became a very important figure in the sports and entertainment businesses. As an executive vice-president of Warner Communications he ran that firm's recorded music subsidiaries. At the same time, with partners, he bought the New York Cosmos professional soccer team. In 1983 Alan and two partners bought the Celtics basketball team which they ran for ten years with great success before selling it.

Alan was also chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden, at that time theowners of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. He also owned a major interest in the New Jersey Nets as well as a televison channel and radio station in Boston.

As an NBA team owner, he was an important person in the development of the league and became chairman of the NBA board of governors. He leaves behind his wife,Carol, and three grandchildren.